Chapter Four

Hermione and Professor Stroud reached the beach as he led the way. It was dark but her eyes adjusted, the soft moon light helping her see her surroundings. It wasn't too chilly, although she was still glad that she had the Professors coat on. She almost couldn't comprehend it, was this really happening? She was 'stuck' in detention with a gorgeous man hunting for glowing oysters. This had to be one of the most historic detentions anyone had ever experienced.

Abruptly Professor Stroud stopped as he looked out at the water.

"I think this is a good spot," He said suddenly.

Hermione couldn't help but be confused. This was it? There was nothing here. It looked like a normal beach to her. No glowing oysters were in sight.

"I don't understand," Hermione said as he looked up at him, his muscly figure standing close to hers making her feel small.

He smiled as he looked down at her.

To her surprise he leaned forward and started to take off of his shoes, "They live in the sand, where the water meets the shore," He informed her taking his other shoe off, "That's why you can't see them."

Her eyes couldn't help but study him. This was a different Professor than she knew in class. That Professor was a... well a Professor. This man in front of her was totally different. He was relaxed. He seemed at totally at ease.

She decided to follow his lead as she took off her shoes too, "Ok so that would explain why I've never seen these before. But are you sure they are going to be here?"

He rolled his eyes, "Come on who is the Professor here, me or you?"

Hermione laughed lightly surprised that he would tease her like that, "Ok Professor you win."

He froze for a moment as Hermione felt like she had just sad something wrong. He looked at her softly, his green eyes making her weak.

"Can I ask you something?" He said his voice being unusually tender.

Hermione's eyes furrowed but nodded none the less.

"When we're alone, will you call me Emroy?" He said looking at her carefully.

Hermione's heart skipped a beat. It certainly was not allowed for students to call their Professor's by their first names. She didn't know how to respond for a moment. Should she agree? Was this his way of reaching out to her? She decided that it would be alright, after all, he was the one who asked her.

Hermione gave him a half smile, "Alright... Emroy," She added at the end for effect.

He gave her a smile and seemed to release a breath he had been holding, "Alright," He said too. He turned toward the shore, "You ready for this?"

Hermione met his gaze, "Oh I'm ready," She said.

He turned around and walked into the shallow water. Hermione followed him as she felt the cold water wash up on her feet. A shiver went up her spine as she did so, thankful that they weren't going in any further.

"Ok so it's pretty simple. All you have to do is dig a little sand away and you should be able to see them. They don't live too deep in the sand so if you dig a little and you don't see one try a different spot," He explained.

Hermione nodded, "Ok got it."

He gestured toward the sand, "Let me show you."

Hermione studied him as he bent his knees holding the brown sack in one hand and reached into the watery sand with his other. He only had to move about two hand fulls of sand when Hermione saw a glowing purple light. Emroy acted fast his hand grabbing the glowing oyster in his hand. He stood up to show Hermione what they looked like. It was beautiful. The little oyster's neon color glowed brightly in the darkness. It was about the size of his palm. To her surprise, it had tail and it was moving.

These things were alive! She took an involuntary step back.

Emory looked at her his eyes questioning.

"They're moving! You said they were just oysters," She said startled.

Emroy seemed to find this funny as he gave a light laugh, "I'm sorry I should've warned you. What I should have said they look similar to oysters, at least that's what muggles call them when they see them during the day. But at night, this certain kind of species glow at night and they can move around in the sand with their tail."

Hermione finally started to remember reading about something like this in her Care for Magical Creatures book.

"I remember these, they're called Trites right?" Hermione asked for conformation.

He smiled as looked at her approving, "Very good, you might have some brains after all," He said teasing; "Now it's your turn."

Hermione took a deep breath and mentally prepared herself.

"Ok," She said bending down sticking her hand in the cold water. She ignored the chill and concentrated on finding a Trite of her own. She brushed a few handfuls of sand away with no luck, she tried a different spot.

Suddenly she spotted a glowing blue light as a wave of water glided through her fingers. It tried to move burying itself further into the sand. It was getting away.

"Don't just sit there, grab it!" He said encouragingly.

Hermione acted quickly as she closed her eyes and grabbed the Trite. Once she had it firmly in her hand she pulled her hand out of the sand and stood up quickly. She brought it close to her eyes as she observed the small creature. Its tail tickled her hand, moving as though it was still in the watery sand. The blue glow was gorgeous. Hermione couldn't believe she hadn't ever seen them before.

"You did it," He praised both of them looking down at the small Trite in her hand.

She smiled, "It's beautiful."

Hermione felt him back away, she looked up to see him handsome face smiling at her while he walked away from her backwards, "Something to almost rival you in that aspect."

Hermione felt blood rush to her cheeks as her heart skipped a beat. Did he just call her beautiful?

"Now come on this is your punishment," He said with a wink, "Let's get some more of these," He said with a teasing smile as he put his Trite in the brown sack.

Hermione followed his lead and in a comfortable silence, they continued to collect more Trites. Hermione couldn't believe such beautiful creatures were right under her feet all this time. As she filled her bag, she discovered they came in all sorts of colors. Green, yellow, orange, pink, it was like she was holding a rainbow in her hands. She grew used to the water after a while. It no longer felt cold to her feet and hands as she splashed through the gentle waves.

Once Hermione's bag was almost full, holding about twenty Trites, she turned to look at Profes- um Emory.

She found that his back was to her as curiosity got the best of her. She made her way toward him as the water washed into her small legs. When she reached him he didn't turn around. He simply looked quickly over his shoulder hearing her approach. He was holding something in his hand.

Hermione peaked around his back standing purposely close to him to see what he was holding. She had to catch her breath. It was a strand of large glowing white pearls. Hermione had never seen anything so bright, pure, and so beautiful. She couldn't help but take a step in closer.

Emroy turned to face her standing dangerously close.

"They're pearls from the Trites," He said softly.

Hermione had a burning desire to touch them as she stared at the beautiful naturally made pearls.

"Do you like them?" He asked watching her closely.

Hermione nodded that she did, still staring at the pearls.

"Would you mind keeping them for me?" He asked.

Hermione slowly lifted her eyes to meet his green ones. She instantly regretted doing so because she was entranced. It was though she had been thrown into a sea of mixed emotions. She couldn't tell what his eyes were saying but she knew that he cared for her for more than just a student and to Hermione's lack of better judgment, she didn't care. She realized that he was still waiting for a response.

"No I wouldn't mind," She said swallowing hard.

His overpowering green eyes finally left hers as he reached for her hand. Hermione almost died in shock as she thought he was going to hold her hand. But he simply and sweetly lifted her wrist up closer to him so that he could put the pearls around her wrist. She held deathly still as he muttered something under his breath when suddenly the strand of pearls lifted into the air and wrapped themselves around her wrist. The strand tied itself together as it finally went limp again. The white pearls against her skin made her look almost tan.

Hermione looked up at him, "You don't want to keep them?"

He smiled sweetly at her making Hermione's knees weak, "Are you kidding? They look like they were made for you, I couldn't keep them."

A small smile crept on her face. Hermione started to get brave, "So do you this with all of your students you put in detention?"

He looked shocked, "Of course not," He said, "Only the really bad students get this kind of punishment."

Hermione took a moment to get his humor.

"You're joking," She said unbelievably.

His face broke out into a smile, "Yes I'm joking."

He then stepped so close to Hermione she could feel his breath on her. His sweet musky aroma filled her lungs drugging her. She felt her body long for him to touch her. What was going on with her?

"In all honesty Hermione," He said as he looked deep into her eyes full with sincerity, "I know that I am your Professor and you're my student, and that's a really fine line," He paused for a moment as he fiddled with his hands as though he was nervous, "But I would also like us to be friends," He said his voice as sweet as honey.

Hermione couldn't help but feel butterflies in her stomach. Yes she wanted to scream yes, I would love to be even more than friends. Another logical part of her side knew that this might lead to trouble. But what harm could come out of being friends with her Professor?

"Yeah I would like that too," She said her voice not coming out as strong as would have liked it too as she gave him small smile. Hermione looked down at the glowing pearls on her wrist caught, "So is this our like our friendship bracelet?" She asked teasing, looking back up to him to see his response.

"Oh it's defiantly a friendship bracelet," He said with a crooked smile, "And you better not lose it or else this friendship is over," His words dripping with sarcasm.

Hermione's mouth hung open dramatically her smile creeping through, "I'll do my best not to lose it," She said, then added in a more serious voice, "Thank you… it's incredible."

He smiled at her, "What are friends for?"

Hermione grew warm as she felt her heart soar. She didn't know what to say. She was finding that she liked him more than she should. Hermione screamed at herself for thinking of him in that way but she couldn't help it.

Suddenly his voice pulled her out of her thoughts.

"We had better get going, it's getting late," He said looking in their brown sacks, "I think we have enough to satisfy Madame Pomfry."

Hermione nodded, "What will she do with them?" Hermione asked. Suddenly, she started to worry, "She won't kill them will she?" She asked as her eyes widened with horror, had she just helped harvest the beautiful creatures to be slaughtered?

A beautiful laugh erupted from Emory's throat, after he composed himself he finally said through a smile, "Come on Hermione," He said as he shook his head walking toward the castle.

Hermione looked after him confused as frozen for a moment.

"What? She's not is she?!" Hermione called after him, making her feet follow him.

He only laughed once again in response. His handsome laugh echoing through the air as they both made their way back up to the dark castle...

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The next couple of days went by in a blur. Hermione couldn't help but mull over her detention with Emroy about a thousand times in her mind that night. The pearl bracelet she wore that night was a constant reminder. It hadn't been moved from her wrist since that night. She never wanted to take it off. It would always remind her of how amazing that night had been. Hermione suddenly stopped herself. Was she reading too much into things? Was he just trying to be nice? She didn't know. All she knew was that she liked him, she felt comfortable around him and right now that was nice. Too be honest Hermione was in need of a friend. She didn't really have anyone to talk to now that Harry and Ron weren't around anymore- Ron. He popped into her head as she thought back to the letter she had received yesterday. It was shorter than she hoped it would have been. He must be really busy at the ministry because he hardly answered half of the questions she had asked him. It made Hermione a little discouraged. Did he not really care how she was doing? She decided that she wouldn't worry about it right now. She had bigger things on her plate at the moment that she needed to deal with. Like figuring out what the heck was going on with her body.

She had spent the whole afternoon looking for answers, again. Just like last time, she didn't have any luck. She must have been sitting in her chair for at least two hours straight. Hermione let out a large sigh as she slammed the Human Transformation over the Ages shut. This was useless, nothing in these books were going to tell her anything. She just wanted to know what was happening to her. Was that too much to ask?

She left the library frustrated, deciding to give up for the day. She walked down the corridor filled with students lost in her own thoughts. A little too closely it would seem, because if she had been paying attention to her surroundings, she would have noticed a handsome boy walking up to her.

"Hi Hermione," He said stopping her right in her tracks.

She had to stop so abruptly to avoid running into him she lost the books she had been carrying. They scattered on the ground with a loud thud. Hermione felt multiple eyes on her as the noise attracted unwanted attention from every direction. Hermione cursed on the inside already in a foul mood.

"I'm so sorry I didn't mean to scare you," The boy said. Hermione looked at him curiously; she had never met this boy before. He was tall and judging from the uniform he was wearing, he played Quidditch for Ravenclaw, "Here let me help you."

He bent down quickly and gathered up her books for her.

"Wow you really like to read huh?" He said as he gave the three large books back to her.

Hermione had to smile a little, "Yeah you could say that. I'm sorry I didn't catch your name."

"Oh right I'm Jordan," He said smiling. Hermione supposed she would have been attracted to him if she hadn't been so distracted.

They stood in awkward silence for a moment as Hermione started to grow uncomfortable.

"Well it was nice to meet you Jordan," She said as she started to make her way around him, but he stepped in front of her.

"Hey actually I was kinda hoping that you know, since the Hogsmade trip is coming up next weekend I-I was wondering if maybe you wanted to go with me? I mean I know I don't know you very well but I think it could fun," He said politely.

Hermione was shocked at his boldness. She was used to having guys stare at her from afar or whistle but none of them had the guts to actually come up and talk to her. She had to give him credit; she could tell he was nervous.

She gave him a small smile, she had to admit, and he was nice. If things were different, she would have probably liked him. But for some reason her body didn't seem to get any real feelings for anyone since it started acting crazy. Well any real feelings besides him, she thought.

Hermione was about to reply when a low silky voice boomed over them.

"She's not going with you," Malfoy stated as he walked toward them.

Hermione couldn't believe her eyes; he was actually coming toward her voluntarily. He was even more handsome than she remembered him. She tried to deny the fact to herself but she couldn't do it anymore. For some strange reason, she was drawn to Malfoy. He gave her a feeling that no one else did. But she had to brush all those thoughts aside as Jordan responded.

"I'm sorry?" Jordan said confused looking at Malfoy.

Malfoy rolled his eyes, "I said she's. not. going. with. you," He said again emphasizing every word, making it seem like he was talking to someone stupid.

Although Malfoy was bigger than he, Jordan (to his credit) didn't back down.

"I wasn't asking you, but thanks for listening to our conversation," He said glaring.

"Malfoy what are you doing?" Hermione whispered looking at him like he had lost his mind.

"She's already going with me, Ok? Now leave," Malfoy said ignoring Hermione, giving Jordan a hard dark look.

Jordan looked at Hermione for conformation.

She had to get Jordan out of the line of fire, "Thank you Jordan but as you can see I already have such a nice lovely date," She said sarcastically.

Jordan looked at Malfoy with a piercing eye, then he turned back to Hermione, "I understand sorry, see ya around Hermione."

With that, he left Malfoy and Hermione to themselves. Every student in the hall watching them. She groaned internally, everyone had just seen Malfoy act like a jerk over stupid jealously. If no one thought they were a thing before, they sure did now.

She stepped toward him making sure to keep her voice low.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Hermione demanded, "What gives you the right to do that?"

Malfoy honestly didn't know what had come over him. He was just walking through the hallway minding his own freaking business following/watching Granger (which he would never admit to her) when that stupid guy showed up. Malfoy sat there for a moment seething as he watched him talk to her, knowing full well his intentions. He didn't know why but something inside him snapped. His wolf couldn't stand seeing her with someone else.

"You're getting mad at me?" He said stubbornly, "I just saved you from a date you didn't want to go on."

Hermione couldn't believe the nerve of him, "You don't know that."

"Would you have said yes?" Malfoy challenged.

"No, I mean yes, I mean I don't know," She said fumbling for words, "The point is that you're not my boyfriend, you have no right to butt into my love life."

Malfoy's eyes darkened, he had every right. She was his even if she didn't know, and he was hers too. He had to tell her before things got any worse. He tried to imagine what would happen if he saw her kissing someone else? His wolf wanted to kill someone at just the thought.

"Actually I do," Malfoy said snidely.

Hermione scoffed, "Excuse me?"

"Look I'd love to explain but I'd rather not have the entire student body for an audience," He said looking around at all the faces that kept looking over at them as they whispered to each other.

Hermione folded her arms, "Then meet me later and explain it to me."

Malfoy gave a loud sight. He knew that he shouldn't. Being around Granger with a lot of people surrounding them was one thing but one on one was a dangerous game. He didn't know if he could control himself. But he had to tell her. It was eating away at him. These past couple of weeks had been hell for him and he couldn't avoid her for much longer. He felt himself starting to go crazy. He needed her, no matter how much it pained him to say it.

"Fine," he said finally, he leaned forward to her and whispered into her ear, "Meet me in the astronomy tower at ten tonight."

Hermione tensed up as his sent filled her lungs, she had to suppress the urge to touch him, "Fine," She said copying him.

With that, Malfoy left not bothering to say goodbye. He walked away as he glared at on lookers, who quickly averted their eyes and scurried away as he passed. Hermione watched him go as she ran her hands through her thick hair. He drove her insane. Absolutely insane.

There was one good thing that came out of this though. Malfoy had finally agreed to talk to her alone. It was the only thing keeping her feet planted in the hallway. She felt triumph flow through her.

She was finally going to get some answers.

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That night Hermione couldn't keep her eyes off of the clock. She was pacing alone in the Gryffindor common room as she waited for ten O'clock to arrive. Why did she ever agree to meet with him after hours? She started to worry. What if they got caught? She couldn't run the risk of being put in detention again. She surely wouldn't have the same experience as she did last time if. But she wanted answers, no she needed answers. It was too big of an opportunity to pass up, who knows if she would ever get Malfoy to agree to meet with her again. She had to go, she decided. She had to find out what was going on. She was a 'know it all' like that.

Finally after what seemed like ages the hour hand had nearly reached ten. She took a deep breath grabbing her coat. As she did so, she realized that it wasn't her coat. It was Professor Stroud's. She had forgotten to give it back after they said goodbye to each other the other night. Hermione brought the coat to her nose as Emory's sent filled her lungs. She couldn't help but smile like the stupid school girl she was. She would have to return it, which gave her a sneaky excuse to see him again. However in the meantime, she decided to wear the coat anyway. Her eye's then went down to the pearls that were still on her wrist. She wasn't going to take them off either. With that, she scurried through the portrait door into the darkness.

Meanwhile Malfoy looked down at his watch. She was late. He ran his hand through his hair nervously. He started to paced back and for as it suddenly hit him that he was really about to do this. He was going to tell Granger the biggest secret of his life. Not only that but he was about to change hers. He almost felt sorry for her, heaven knows he felt sorry for himself. He didn't want this. He didn't want them both to break up with the person they were both with before. He didn't want her to have to give up any of that, but they would be miserable. They would end up together somehow, no matter how hard they fought it. He didn't like it, but he had to accept it, and so would she.

Going back to his home for a couple of weeks helped for a while. But his body was starting to go crazy. He had dreams about her almost every night. Whether it was her with another guy, her dying, her getting hurt by some stranger, if he could have a gallon for every time he had to make her leave his mind he would be a billionaire. His mother helped clarify some things. Some things he didn't even want to know. The 'bonding' thing was the thing he was dreading the most. He wasn't going to mention that to Granger tonight though. Even that made him cringe in horror. Granger wasn't ready for that. She wasn't even going to like the basics. He could only hope that she would overtime warm up to the idea of being with him.

Suddenly Malfoy heard a movement behind him. He turned around finding Granger standing at the top of the stairs that she had just climbed. She looked beautiful. Her soft brown curls falling against her pale skin. But something glowing on her wrist caught his eye. White pearls hung beautifully on her hand complementing her beauty. He wondered where she had gotten them? He decided it didn't matter right now. All he knew what that his wolf was on the verge of explosion from excitement. He had to concentrate if he wanted any sort of functioning relationship with Granger after this.

Hermione couldn't put her finger on what his facial expression as she stood there. All that she knew was how she was feeling. She felt the same foreign feeling swell within her. His pale blonde hair sat perfectly messy on his head. His strong jaw bone flexing as he clenched his jaw. Hermione could feel her defenses trying to go away, but she needed them. He made her think unclearly. He was the one thing she couldn't permanently get out of her mind. She would never admit that Malfoy was one of the most gorgeous being's she had ever seen. She was just like every other girl in school. She had a deep attraction to him, and it made her feel weak. She couldn't stand that fact.

They stood like that for a moment, the tension in the room as high as the ceiling. Hermione finally couldn't stand the silence any longer as she spoke.

"Hello," She said simply as she started to walk closer to him.

"You're late," He said his voice coming out colder than he wanted it to.

Hermione's eyes narrowed, "Um I'm sorry, you made me come out passed curfew. So I had to sneak around and make sure I didn't get caught," She snapped.

Malfoy had to be nicer or this was going to go south fast.

"I only did it because it's not exactly a conversation that you or I want to be over heard," He said in a gentler tone.

Hermione seemed to relax a little, "I know, we seem to attract enough attention as it is," She said.

If you only knew, Malfoy thought. Well she was about to.

Hermione's insides were screaming. What was wrong with her? She had never felt like this in her life. She felt a crazed desire to be close to him, to feel him, but she refrained herself. There was something wrong with her, there had to be a reason that she was feeling like this. And she was betting that it was Malfoy's doing. He did something to her to make want him, he would have had to. That's why she was here.

"So are you going to tell me what this is all about?" Hermione said finally voicing her thoughts.

Malfoy suppressed his wolf as he got up the courage to speak, "You're not going to like it."

Hermione raised her eye brows, "Is it that bad?"

"It's worse," He stated.

Hermione's stomach sunk, she started to grow even more worried, "What is it Malfoy?"

"You sure you want to know? Because once you do there's no going back," He said trying to give her an out.

"I don't want to know... I need to know," Hermione stated as she took a few steps closer to him only being a few feet apart, "Do you have any idea what's been happening to me lately?" She asked her emotions rising to the surface, "My body is going crazy! Literally. I can hear things from a long way away, I'm stronger now, I have reflexes that I've never had before, and my eyes keep wigging out," She said in a panicked voice. She paused for a moment catching her breath; it felt so good to finally say out loud.

Her eyes then narrowed at him as she started to get angry, "And then there's you."

Malfoy's tried to keep a clam face as she rounded on him.

"I haven't been able to get you out of my head for days Malfoy," She said running her hand through her hair thinking out loud, "You keep popping up everywhere I go. I can't get rid of you. I mean I can't do anything. I-I-I can't do my homework or-" She stuttered trying to vent but she was cut off by a loud voice.

"Forget your stupid homework Granger," Malfoy said cutting her off harshly, Hermione jumped taking a step back involuntary as Malfoy continued shouting, "I haven't been able to sleep in weeks Granger, weeks," He said hating how pathetic it sounded, "You wanna talk about getting someone off your mind? How about not being able to eat or sleep or even breath without knife in your windpipe without your face glued to my head," He gave a laughing scoff, "I even had to dump my own girlfriend two days into school because of you. So don't you dare lecture me about not being able to me get me out of your head."

Hermione stood silent shocked at his outburst. Was that all true? Everything he said hit her like a ton of bricks. He sounded like he hated her for it, like he despised her. How could he be mad at her? It wasn't her fault, heck she didn't even know what was going on! He was the one with all the answers.

"If this is happening to you to... what does this mean? Did someone else do this to us?" She questioned, voicing her thoughts out loud, trying to piece things together; it made her wonder if it wasn't his fault. Why would he put himself through that?

"No," He said trying to explain, but she wasn't letting him.

"Is this some sort of punishment?" She asked again.

"No," Malfoy said getting irritated again.

"Some sort of potion or curse?" She asked terrified.

"No! Damn it Granger I'm a werewolf!" Malfoy shouted over her.

Hermione looked at him taking another involuntary step back. Suddenly it was as if everything in the world went quiet. She froze in place not being able to move. She'd even stopped breathing. Her eyes looked at him unbelievably. She didn't understand. How could he be a werewolf? He hadn't been bitten, had he?

Hermione spoke in a low threatening voice, "Is this some kind of sick joke?"

Malfoy's eyes started to grow serious, he voice low too, "I wish it was."

Hermione tried to put the pieces together, "Even if you're telling the truth, I still don't understand what that has got to do with what's happening to me?"

Malfoy looked at her painfully not really knowing any other way of telling her. So he said it as simply as he could.

"Because you're transitioning into one," He stated.

Hermione stood still as she looked him straight in the eye, "Into a werewolf? Why would you say that? I haven't been bitten?"

Malfoy just gave her a sad look as worked up the courage to say the words he had been dreading for weeks. He took a deep breath.

"You don't have to be bitten," He explained, "You're transitioning because you're... because you're... Ugh this is the hard part," He said running his hand in his hair frustrated, trying to get out the words.

Hermione was getting impatient, "Because I'm what?" She said exasperated.

"Because you're my mate," He said as quickly as he could like ripping off a band aid.

"I'm your?..." Her eyes widened as the words hit her.

Hermione took in a sharp breath bringing her hand up to cover her mouth. It was worse than she thought.

Her worst nightmare had come true.

What did you think? You won't want to miss the next chapter! Thanks for reading